The Urban Araras

Endangered, the Blue-and-yellow-Makaws (Arara ararauna) or araras, as people call them here in Brazil, are large birds. They may reach a lengh of 33 inches, from the beak to the end of the tailfeathers and may live for 60 years, or more.

The araras are active birds and love to climb, swing, bounce and chew. Their toys should be strong, for they are known to be destructive. They have powerful jaw muscles, and chewing is necessary to keep them healthy and in shape.

Sypix

Their sociability and even temperaments make them great pets. Their intelligence, willingness to learn, and talking abilities only help make them more precious in the eyes of bird lovers. The Blue-and-yellow-Makaw, like most parrots, thrives on attention from its owner and will form a steady bond with its family members (about.com)

The makaws generally mate for life. Their nest is a tree hole and the female typically lays 2 or 3 eggs. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days, and the chick fledges from the nest about 90 days after hatching.


Ticuna & Uaiuai starting their day


I personally, have been having a joyful experience with a couple of this species:

Ticuna and Uaiuai belong to the owner of a restaurant by the lagoon, where I usually workout when I have time; and Uaiuai (the male) has learned my name. Whenever he notices me from afar, he starts screaming it really loud! This made me smile when I listened to it for the first time. But yesterday, I remarked that the single scream had turned into a "chorus". The extravagant blue-and-yellow couple was leading a bunch of kids I had never met before! O...o, araras can be fussy, indeed!!


Ticuna & Uaiuai by the sunset

Araras are such beautiful birds, but according to most bird experts they're not for everybody. Space and exercise may not be enough for a species that is prone to ear-shattering vocalizations and contact calls. Before choosing an arara as a pet, one should study and evaluate circustances. Especially if the bird is going to live in an urban environment.


And here I am, heading to the lagoon again.. Let's see what the surprise is for today....

Atafona & Climate Change

Atafona is a place where the effects of climate change have become explicit.

Atafona by André Gardenberg

In 30 years, more than 200 construction buildings near the beach have submerged (over 15 blocks have been destroyed) due to the sea level rise and to the fury of the wind. The coastline is advancing the land about 6m per year and the beacon had to be moved into the city twice.

Atafona by Flávio Veloso

Located in the north of the state of Rio de Janeiro, the district of Atafona is known for the healing properties of its waters (ocean and river) and for its ruins, sculped by the erosion.

Atafona by Marcos D'Paula

Because Atafona attracts tourists and artists in general, efforts are made to adapt the local communities to economic activities that are related to the constant modification in the environment and topography.

digital mapping of the erosion in the urban area of Atafona The name Atafona has an indigenous origin, meaning windmill.

more: "Atafona engulfed by the sea" (with photos)

Flying Rivers / Rivières Volantes

When you look at clouds in the sky, what do you see?

Some climate scientists see flying rivers.

Watch the video and know why:

The term flying rivers was coined by the scientist from INPE (National Space Research Institute) in Brazil, José Marengo, to describe the low levels of jets of air currents that carry water vapor from the Amazon forest, down the Eastern lands of the Andes up to Northern Argentina.

The Flying Rivers Project aims to investigate and to map the connectiveness of the rain water, coming from the Amazon forest, with the multiple factors that build the Brazilian economy.

For us, dwellers of the Southeastern Latin America, dependent on the water of the North of Brazil, flying rivers are messages from the Amazon, as a reminder of how much we should care for trees, no matter how far they may seem to be. For us, flying rivers are literally part of our urban nature.

When you look at clouds in the sky, what do you see?

I see the Amazon Forest.

In French: La conférence de Gérard Moss "Rivières Volantes" et les superbes photos de Magi Moss (pdf)

Araquém Alcântara: Collector of Worlds

Wildlife environment photographer Araquém Alcântara, on a cross-boundary momentum, turns his lens on urban nature.

Santos, São Paulo - Araquém Alcântara: Fotografias - More on Estadão

"I've had a resistance to urban environment. But not anymore. I've broken through it with persistence, effort and sweat; for I see myself as a collector of worlds."

Slideshow: Waters of Brazil - Araquém Alcântara - UOL Viagem

See more of Araquém's work on Brazilian biodiversity

The Urban Snowy Egret

The Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, is a migratory bird and has its breeding habitat in large inland and coastal wetlands, extending from Lower Great Lakes and Southwestern United States to South America - see map below:

wikimedia commons map -egret

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Snowy Egret plays an important role in the control of the populations of fish, crustaceans, insects and small reptiles - and why not also say: it adds more beauty and harmony to the landscape.

wikimedia commons - Egretta thula

Because this bird is so integrated to the urban scenery of the town, it has become one of the symbols of the Wonderful City.
The carioca (native of Rio) egret is a resident bird and does not migrate to other cities ...... but who would?

Check here the musings of a carioca citizen on native snowy egrets for O Globo (in Portuguese).